View full sizeEADSIn this artist's depiction provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., a KC-45A refuels a B-2 stealth bomber. The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. said Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010, that it is soliciting bids for construction of an aircraft production plant in Mobile, Alabama, where the company is proposing to build refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Force. (EADS Photo)

MOBILE, Alabama -- The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. said today it was soliciting bids for construction of an aircraft production plant in Mobile, where the company is proposing to build refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Force.

EADS, the parent company of Airbus, said it was moving forward with construction planning so that it could be ready to move quickly if it is selected by the Air Force for the potential $40 billion deal.

EADS is competing with Boeing Co. for a contract to build 179 new tankers for the Air Force. A decision is expected early next year.

EADS in August named Hoar Program Management as its construction manager for the proposed $600 million assembly plant at Brookley Field. EADS said today that Hoar would release bid qualifications Sunday through its web site at http://www.hoarpm.com.

The project's initial phase includes construction of a military conversion center where EADS will modify commercial Airbus A330 aircraft for use by the Air Force. Later phases include construction of administrative offices and a final assembly line for the A330, currently produced by Airbus in Toulouse, France.

Airbus also has announced plans to assemble commercial A330 freighters at the Brookley plant.

EADS said construction of the plants - contingent on winning the tanker contract - will create thousands of jobs along the Gulf Coast.

“The Air Force has had to wait far too long for a new tanker, and the 48,000 Americans who will build the KC-45 have had to wait far too long for the jobs,” said Ralph D. Crosby Jr., chairman of EADS North America. “If our tanker is selected by the Air Force, we are well positioned to hit the ground running on day one.”